Physikalische Fragestellungen in der Zellbiologie
Prof. Dr. Erwin Frey (Theoretische Physik, Hahn-Meitner-Institut, Berlin)

The structure responsible for the extraordinary mechanical and dynamic properties of cells is the cytoskeleton, a rigid yet flexible and dynamic network of protein fibres, combined with a variety of associated regulatory proteins, whose tasks range from passive cross-linking and active transport to the regulation of biochemical processes. Due to their enormous stiffness, the cytoskeletal filaments exhibit a range of novel physical properties, which are essential for the proper biological function of the cytoskeleton.

Intracellular transport and cytoskeletal organisation are the result of an interaction between elastic filaments and force generation by motor proteins. The observed phenomena are still too complex for a complete theoretical description. Studies on simple model systems reveal interesting collective phenomena which can be understood on the basis of driven stochastic processes far from equilibrium.